Two Central American migrants headed for the United States were killed and a third was injured when criminals threw them off the freight train they were riding in the Mexican Gulf state of Veracruz, officials said.

The incident occurred early Tuesday in San Juan Evangelista, a city in the southern part of Veracruz.

The migrants were attacked after they refused to pay “tolls” to other men riding the train, the Veracruz Attorney General’s Office said.

Criminals threw three of the migrants, whose nationality was not released, from the moving train, killing two of them, the AG’s office said.

The train cut off the third Central American’s foot, the AG’s office said.

Another group of men aboard the train staged the attack, the injured Central American told investigators.

Central American migrants headed for the United States often ride on the freight train known as “La Bestia,” or “The Beast.”

An estimated 300,000 Central Americans undertake the hazardous journey across Mexico each year on their way to the United States.

The trek is a dangerous one, with criminals and corrupt Mexican officials preying on the migrants.

Gangs kidnap, exploit and murder migrants, who are often targeted in extortion schemes, Mexican officials say.